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Tag: Atiku Abubakar

  • Ohaneze: We’ll vote against Atiku, PDP if……

    The Youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Monday congratulated the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar on his emergence at the party’s primary.

    The former Vice President on Sunday defeated 11 other aspirants to pick the party’s ticket.

    Read Also:Ohaneze warns PDP against denying South-East VP ticket

    He will challenge incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in next year’s general election.

    Reacting to the victory of the former Vice President, Ohaneze Youth Council Worldwide led by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro said Atiku is the right man for the job.

    The group, however, insist that only a running mate from South East will be a suitable pair for PDP to win 2019 Presidential election.

    “Majority of Igbo believes in Restructuring and majority of Igbo Youths wants Referendum because of the economic hardship in the country, we believe that Atiku whose campaign of restructuring will win the hearts of Nigerians and possible pair of running mate from South East Will quell the quest of referendum by agitators and Igbo Youths”

    “We insists that any betrayal of denying Ndigbo the Vice Presidential slot of PDP will make Ndigbo dump PDP in the Presidential election, but will vote PDP in the Gubernatorial elections in Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu”

    The group further said that the zone ‘has better personalities like Peter Obi, Ngozi Okonjo Iwuala, Sen Dr Ike Ekweremadu and Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe who are fit for the Vice Presidential job’

    The group warned that it will work against the PDP by mobilising youths in the zone to vote for another party of Mr Atiku fails to pick his running late from the South East.

  • Jang congratulates Atiku, pledges total support

    Former Plateau governor, Sen. Jonah Jang, has congratulated Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for picking the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections.

    Jang, who also contested alongside Atiku and 10 others, said in a statement issued on Monday in Jos that the victory was well-deserved and he would support the party’s candidate to win in 2019.

    Our reporter reported that  Atiku polled 1,532 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Aminu Tambuwal, who had 693 votes at the party’s elective convention held in Port- Harcourt.

    Read Also:Bindow embraces Buhari as Atiku’s victory divides Adamawa

    “On behalf of my campaign team and teeming supporters, I hereby congratulate Atiku Abubakar for a deserved victory and accept in totality the outcome of the Primary Elections.

    “As a loyal member and responsible stakeholder of our party, I hereby pledge to support and work for the actualisation of the anticipated Atiku Abubakar presidency; a presidency which I strongly believe will have answers to the multifaceted problems confounding the current occupant of Aso Rock, ” Jang said.

    The former governor urged Atiku to pay special attention to the challenges confronting the people of Middle Belt, particularly the countless killing of innocent citizens by ” faceless” gunmen, when he becomes president.

    He advised the candidate to make the security and welfare of the middle belters his top priority.

    Jang commended the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee and the Dr Ifeanyi Okowa-led Convention committee for organising a hitch-free and transparent convention.

  • Atiku’s lifetime bid for driver’s seat

    The much-publicised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention of the has come and gone. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s standard bearer in next year’s presidential election. Between 1991 and now, he has contested five times for the presidential ticket on different platforms. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on how Atiku’s lifetime ambition of taking the driver’s seat.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is on a familiar terrain. In February, next year, he will, on the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, be a formidable opponent to President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the general election.

    He clinched the part’s ticket  at its convention, which held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, between Saturday and yesterday. on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the general election.

    His political life is full of ups and downs. But, his ability to quickly put the past behind him, strive to rise after each electoral fall and forge ahead with optimism underscores a sort of “audacity of hope”.

    The intra-party poll at the Adokie  Amesiemaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, was free and fair. It appears the PDP is now sober. It may have turned a new leaf. Gone are the days of impunity. The party appears to be putting its house in order.

    The culture of imposition is fading. PDP does not have the burden of a power-loaded president whose word is law, and who, like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, could impose his wish on the majority.

    A level playing ground was provided by the Ifeanyi Okowa-led Convention Planning Committee for the aspirants. The shadow poll was open, democratic and transparent. The advantage of the credible process was that a post-primary crisis was averted. The strengths and weaknesses of the contenders came to the fore. The losers accepted their fate in the interest of the party, promising to team up with the winner to fight for power at the centre.

    Also, the candidate embraced them and invited them to a team work.

    There will be a major political battle next year. The APC is pushing for continuity. But, the PDP is calling for power shift. Only a thin line demarcates the two divides. In the last 19 years of stable civil rule, many gladiators from both sides have cohabitated during alignment and re-alignment of forces. They are not oblivious of their strengths and weaknesses. But, certain circumstances may make next year’s poll a tough battle.

    It is Atiku’s fifth attempt at the presidency. At 72, he is not a young man. Many think that time is running out. Yet, for him, the attainment of the presidency is a critical factor in self-actualisation.

    In the aborted Third Republic, he challenged the late Moshood Abiola to a duel at the historic Jos convention of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). But, many believed that he was running for the highest office by proxy. The main issue at that time was his political mentor, the late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, who later asked him to step down for Abiola during that tensed moment of horse trading, wheeling and dealing.

    His second attempt was in 2003 when he made a feeble attempt to contest against his boss, former President Obasanjo. Atiku was said to have the backing of many governors, including Orji Kalu (Abia) and James Ibori (Delta). It was a risky venture. The president was said to have knelt down for his deputy as he implored him to opt out of the race. That episode marked the parting of ways between the former numbers one and two citizens.

    When he defected from the PDP in 2007, he sought refuge in the defunct Action Congress (AC). He ran for the president, but without success. He was defeated by the younger brother of his mentor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Atiku’s runnning mate was Senator Ben Obi. After the unsuccessful attempt, he retraced his steps to the PDP. Later, Obi followed suit. The AC family felt betrayed. They complained that he jumped ship without informing party leaders.

    In 2011, Atiku threw his hat into the ring again. At the regional selection process, he defeated former President Ibrahim Babangida. But, he could not cross the next hurdle. At the PDP primary in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he was defeated by President Goodluck Jonathan, who had the backing of Obasanjo, the political coach-in-chief.

    A serial defector, Atiku later left for the APC after the formation of the party by the legacy platforms-the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congres for Progressive Change (CPC), a faction of the PDP and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). During the 2015 primary, he contested along with President Buhari, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda Isaiah, publisher of Leadership newspaper. He came third, trailing Kwakwanso. Gen. Buhari was elected as candidate.

    Two years ago, the former vice president called it quits with the APC. He unfolded his presidential ambition, thereby drawing attention to himself as an opposition leader. By the time he returned to the PDP, he had revived his old structures and networks across the six geo-political zones. To worm himself to the politically conscious and highly enlightened people of the Southwest, he campaigned to them on the borrowed platform of restructuring. His campaign manager was former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel. But, already a household name in Nigeria, Atiku needed no introduction.

    At the close of poll in the PDP national convention, which dragged into noon yesterday, he dwarfed his opponents.

    The Waziri Adamawa, the veteran aspirant, whose lifetime ambition is to rule Nigeria, smiled home with the ticket. A man of excellent gait and commanding presence, the political warhorse was the oldest among the contenders. While other aspirants spoke extempore, shortly before the commencement of voting, Atiku read his speech from a prepared text. He polled 1, 532 to beat his closest rival, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who got 693. Senate President Bukola Saraki got 317.

    The odds against Atiku’s opponents

    The eminent politician has a wider experience in the mobilisation and management of delegates for presidential primaries. His group, the Peoples Front of Nigeria (PFN), has garnered a lot of skills and experience in this regard since 1990 when it beat the Peoples Solidarity Party (PSP) to seize control of the SDP.

    Besides, Atiku has tremendous resources which he deployed widely for the primary. He was ahead of other contenders because he started hitting the campaign road since 2017 when he returned to the PDP. Members of the old Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) backed him. He also enjoyed the backing of many founding fathers.

    What also worked for Atiku was that he has tentacles across the zones. The influence of governors, leaders and elders who backed him also reduced the chances of Tambuwal and Saraki.

    To observers, Saraki started his campaign late. His camp also suggested that he suffered frequent distractions from the presidency, the police and the APC, which allegedly did not want him to emerge as a challenger to President Buhari.

    Saraki lacked experience in terms of management of presidential primaries. It was his first attempt. It is doubtful if he had resources like Atiku, the billionnaire politician and Tambuwal, who was financially supported by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

    His Northcentral zone was not in the calculation of the core North for power shift.

     

    The journey ahead

    After the convention, where the battle for the ticket was won and lost, what is next for PDP and Atiku?

    During the week, politics of substitution will replace convention blues. Tambuwal will have to return to Sokoto to regain the governorship ticket. Also, Saraki will race back to his Kwara Central base to regain the senatorial ticket.

    Atiku still needs the support of these contenders to survive at the general election. The contenders have no choice too, unless they want the APC to continue in power without a fight.

    A source said the APC may not give up on Kwakwanso and Tambuwal, who may still be urged to consider returning to the fold after their failed bid for the PDP ticket.

    To observers, Atiku has much work to do. The onus is on the flag bearer to unite the party and carry along these contenders during post-convention campaigns. All of them should have representatives on his elaborate campaign team to foster inclusion and a sense of belonging.

     

    Politics of running mate begins

    Who will be Atiku’s running mate? How will he emerge? Will he or she come from the Southwest, which is complaining about marginalisation, or the Southeast? Which of the Obis will he pick – Ben or Peter Obi? Will be go for Ike Ekweremadu?

    The campaign will be hot. What else is Atiku preaching, apart from restructuring? What is his blueprint for economic revitalisation and recovery? How will he resolve the security logjam? What are his plans for job creation and youth empowerment? What will shape his foreign policy?

     

    A united or divided house?

    Feelers at the convention suggested that PDP governors are not united. Unlike during the contest for national chairman, governors were not on the same page at the convention. They lined behind different aspirants. Consensus became an uphill task. The last minute attempt by Chairman Uche Secondus to unite them so that they could adopt a single candidate failed. They dispersed in peace and repressed bitterness. Now, they need to put the primary behind them, unite and collectively work for the success of the candidate.

    Will Atiku triumph this time around? He has followers. Last year, a minister in Buhari’s administration professed her loyalty to him. Old allies in the APC are watching his activities with keen interest. He is endowed with courage and resilience. He is goal-oriented. Atiku also believes in the judiciary and rule of law. He survived by leaning on the court when Obasanjo turned the heat on him. He was in court six times.

    What will be Obasanjo’s reaction to his emergence? Before his emergence, Obasanjo had foreclosed supporting him, saying that God will not forgive him if he queued behind Atiku for president. Almost six years ago, Obasanjo disparaged his former deputy, saying that he could not trust him with political leadership. Asked to comment on Atiku’s bid, he retorted: ‘I dey laugh o.’ Although Atiku later embarked on a peace mission to his Abeokuta, Ogun State residence, reconciliation did not take place.

    Recently, Obasanjo allegedly said God had not revealed to him that Atiku will be a good President.  The Waziri replied that his former leader needed to consult with God and spend his twilight of life in a honourable manner.

    To a large extent, Atiku has moderated the public perception of his personality and political career. But, he has maintained that he has never been tried or convicted for corruption. Critics and foes have also insinuated that he had refrained from travelling to the United States (U.S.) where corruption charges are allegedly hanging on his neck. His supporters have denied it, saying that it is a non-issue. The choice of where a person travels to, they argue, is personal. According to them, enemies are cooking up falsehoods to malign the politician.

    But, can Atiku beat President Buhari? Will the North jettison the President and opt for Atiku? Will the isolated defections from the APC to the PDP work in his favour? Who will Nigerians prefer between him and the President? Will Atiku realise his ambition? Time – the four-letter word – will tell.

  • Atiku ‘full of credibility crises’, says Buhari Campaign  

    The Presidency and the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) yesterday launched a scathing attack on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, saying he is “full of credibility crises”.

    In separate statements by the spokesman of the BCO, Festus Keyamo and Special Assistant on Social Media to the President, Laureta Onochie, Atiku came under fire. BCO questioned the alleged monetisation of the process at the PDP convention in Port Harcourt.

    The Campaign Organisation reminded the former Vice President and Nigerians that during the elections, Nigerians would have to decide between a candidate with a history full of credibility crises, damning reports on corruption both home and abroad and another candidate, (the incumbent President) with an unblemished record in public service.”

    The statement said: “We wish to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on his emergence as the candidate of the PDP in respect of the forthcoming 2019 Presidential Election.

    ”However, we note with interest all the reports in the media as to massive vote-buying at the PDP primaries (especially with foreign currency). We contrast this with the speech of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2014 APC Convention when he said as follows:

    “I have always served Nigeria to the best of my ability. I have always tried to give more to the nation than it has given me. This is the principle of service that has guided my public life. Thus, I am not a rich person. I can’t give you a fistful of dollars or naira to purchase your support. Even if I could, I would not do so. The fate of this nation is not up for sale.”

    “There were also media reports in the 2014 APC National Convention that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar freely used the same method of massive vote-buying in foreign currency, but he came a distant third. Till date, he has not denied those media reports. The claim therefore that the process that produced him now as a candidate of the PDP was free, fair and transparent is suspect.

    “It is therefore clear that going into this election, the issues that will agitate the minds of Nigerians most would be centered around the credibility of the candidate of the opposition and the kind of values he brings into our politics.

    “Nigerians would ask themselves whether he can be trusted with our national resources with this proclivity for “dollarising” the political arena, thereby taking us back to the warped values from which President Buhari is trying to extricate the nation. One wonders what such a candidate would do with public funds.

    “Nigerians would also note with interest the verdict of Atiku’s former boss when he was Vice President on his credibility and integrity, calling him unprintable names at different occasions. Nigerians would note that in all of these occasions, Atiku Abubakar had never defended these allegations against him by his former boss, but continues to court his support and cooperation.

    “Nigerians would want to know how candidate Atiku Abubakar intends to inspire a nation to believe in his ability to fight corruption in the face of very damning reports both locally and internationally concerning his records on corruption whilst he was in public service as a Customs officer and later when he was Vice President of Nigeria.

    “We note with amusement that on many occasions, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has tried to claim some credit for certain “achievements” during the tenure of President Obasanjo when he was Vice President because, according to him, he was “part of that government”.

    “We also wish to remind Nigerians that as much as he claims the credit, he must be prepared to accept joint liability for all that happened in that government. He cannot blow hot and cold. In due time we shall talk about all these.

    “Taking all the above into consideration, Nigerians would rightly ask whether a leopard can indeed change its skin despite all the sweet talk they expect to hear from the opposition candidate during the election.”

    Ms Onochie said Atiku’s emergence had made the job of the President’s team easier towards retaining the number one seat in 2019.

    According to her, Atiku left the APC to avoid contesting against the President in the primary.

    She also claimed that Atiku spent more money than other aspirants in the PDP in order to  emerge winner of the Presidential primary election.

    She wrote: “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar outspends Saraki, Tambuwal and others, wins the PDP presidential ticket for 2019.

    “Congratulations Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. You have outspent the rest. You have a new toy. But believe it, it is only a dream.

    “You ran away from facing President Buhari in a primary, now you’ll meet him at the presidential elections. Ntor!

    “14.8 million people made President Buhari their candidate, 26,584 people made Atiku their candidate.

    “Bearing in mind that you can’t go to America to represent us at the United Nations, nor meet with Nigerians in America, our job is made easy.

    “Say Baba Buhari. 2019 is settled. God bless Nigeria,” Onochie added.

     

  • Open duel

    It was first a grudge match. Atiku Abubakar was persona non grata at the Aso Rock, and the man with deep pocket and perennial ambition did not cherish it. Buhari and his men had placed him below the ladder. He grumbled and got tired of it.

    APC provided no way up the presidential tier. Atiku does not hide his ambition under the eaves. Why grumble when you can rumble across the aisle? To PDP, that is. He did exactly that about a year ago. He did it at the risk of being labelled a harlot, a peripatetic rambler. He wears that cloth of an asewo like a fashionista. On Sunday, it paid off. For the first time, Atiku will be a presidential candidate of a party that looks at victory with a rosy, unblinking eye.

    Now, it has transformed from a grudge match to an open duel. Atiku can now confront Buhari, face to face, rhetoric to rhetoric, barnstorm to barnstorm, money stash for money stash. In Port Harcourt, at the Adokiye Amaesimaka Stadium, he kicked the first ball. The applause did not roar. But from the cheers of the delegates, it betokened a battle of gunfire and splintered shards.

    But it did not seem automatic that he would be the flag bearer. Bukola “Eleyinmi” Saraki had looked good on paper. So did Kwankwanso. But reporters say it was not the ideas, or the charisma or the electability that swung it for the Adamawa man. It was naira and dollar. All of the dozen candidates sprayed, and eventually the top plutocrat won the day.

    Up to the time of writing, no candidate had raised a perfidious eyebrow. On the podium, Saraki stood, visibly crestfallen, with a wan-and-ashy smile, a feeble clap of the hands, his head swaying as though the wind tossed about. Kwakwanso’s face winced like one blaming the sunshine, his eyes squinting as though he should borrow Uche Secondus’ cumbersome goggles. David Mark looked demilitarised and former Governor Jang seemed dazed out of his depths.

    With his babaringa and dark glasses, Atiku’s mien and even tone camouflaged his triumphal glee.

    Nothing savvy about the speech, but I spotted a contradiction. He said the PDP had now rebranded, yet he looked back at his party’s time in power as model of governance unlike the suffocating poverty of the Buhari era. More potent was his beggary moment when he praised the Owu chief who has remained unforgiving of Atiku’s alleged treachery. Will OBJ take the olive branch or toss it into an Ota bush?

    More surprising to many was that Saraki came a distant third, and Tambuwal might have won the ticket if the Adamawa man had not turned pirouette from the APC. But that leaves Tambuwal, nonetheless, in one of the most inexplicable miscalculations. He loses governorship and gets nothing. Maybe it was because he never wanted to be governor anyway.

    In spite of the apparent weakness of the Buhari era, Atiku will have to rely on more than his money and his capacity to work the elite in a deal. He has never been a man of the crowd, a man who pulls the emotional springs of the people.  Against a government that claims to fight corruption, Atiku appears to be the wrong man to pit against it. A successful businessman, he has never been known to touch the culture, to tingle the sports fan, to appeal to a pious sentiment, to stir a social function. There is something curiously placid about Atiku that, beyond his money and ambition, he could just pass through the crowd without a jolt. Even when he yells, he sounds forced and uninspired. His voice hardly tingles, or even sings to, the ear.

    He may have to rely perhaps on local virtuosos to do that for him across the country. And he will need his money and elite consultations to push him up that path. I had thought the PDP saw Kwankwanso’s virtue as the man to counter Buhari’s charismatic strangle-hold on all of the Northwest and the much of the Northeast. The former Kano governor cannot play in the second electoral prize, the Southwest, because of his recent meddling in Lagos and Osun State when he lunged at the locals over Fulani fights. But he has a strong base in the Northwest, and would have chopped off some of Buhari’s cult following and used that as a launching pad and momentum. Atiku’s appeal is broad, not deep. Broad appeals do not wake up passion; just distant, even speculative, admiration.

    Buhari has a different sort of persona. He appeals to the talakawa of the North who would not probe his intellectual pedigree, or question his obvious contradictions or hypocrisy, or rile at acts of corruption in his government. He is a man of great Mohamedan piety, according to their lights. And that is sufficient for them. In some sense, his followers are like the shepherds of Trump who once claimed that if he shot a person on a New York road, his followers would not flag their support.

    Tragically, it will turn out to be another hotbed campaign season, but cool on ideas or soaring personalities.

    Obviously, for all his imperfections, Buhari is still the man to beat. Atiku will have to overcome his lethargic image, and that remains to be seen.

     

    Borno’s Mr. Marshall

    The man was a United States general. Our Borno man is a professor. The American took up the job as secretary of state, not as a soldier. Our Borno man took up the task as a commissioner, not as an ivory tower maven. Both looked at the scars of war and decided they would restore the broken places of the country.

    George C. Marshall began the task in 1948 after the Second World War. The project to restore Europe was named after the general and was designated The Marshall Plan.  Professor Umara Zulum, in 2018, is looking to take over that task not as a commissioner but as the helmsman of Borno State as successor to the cerebral, who has piloted the state with aplomb through fear and storm in the past seven and a half years. Umara Zulum has been the Mr. Marshall of Borno, getting his hands and feet dirty in the jungle, in the areas that Boko Haram had pillaged. He is the commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement. He defrocked this professorial toga, and has supervised not only brick and mortar, but to bring the mortals from the brink.  A lot of work has been going unsung over the years, the rebuilding and construction of housing units, schools, roads, markets, hospitals. The mortals on the brink have been gradually returning to their old lives, in spite of the sporadic renewal of Boko Haram onslaught.

    Governor Shettima made the point clear in an essay, showing how he picked him and why. It was the case of the man and the moment conjoining. According to the phrase redacted from Bible, “cometh the man, cometh the hour.” In soulful, persuasive prose, Shettima laid out like no one else the intellectual necessity of Zulum and his practical imperative. Cool-headed with clear diction, Zulum is poised more than anyone else in the Borno firmament to be the Mr. Marshall of Borno State as governor.

     

    No funeral wreaths, please

    A bullet cruised down through the roof into Nsima Ekere’s bedroom. His wife, Ese, and another person narrowly missed it. Whether by an act of God or providence, the APC governorship candidate and NDDC managing director had moved his scheduled meeting next door to the home of Umana Umana. It was clear: an assassination attempt. Whodunit?  Was the bullet just flying like a bird or was it shot? Technology shows that bullet only obeys the trigger man.

    Just a few days after he grabbed the APC ticket to duel Emmanuel Udom, the state governor. Not long before, Godswill Akpabio also survived another attempt, barely three months after dumping PDP.

    This coincided with Udom’s pardon to hundreds of daredevil hoodlums who had unsettled the state over the years. The polls in the state should not descend into blood duel. All we want is the will of the people. Ekere has lobbed at Udom over rising violence in some of the local government areas. You don’t address that by playing flower girl to them and handing the holy communion.

    Ekere’s warning might be seen as a political assertion, but should he be a victim before it is taken seriously? We abhor funeral wreaths ahead of elections. Let the people garland their choice.

  • 2019: Buhari, Atiku set

    The 2019 battle for President began in earnest yesterday as the standard bearers of the major parties –President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – threw darts at each other.

    Atiku, who floored 11 others at the PDP shadow poll in Port Harcourt yesterday, said Nigerians were yearning for the return to power of the PDP barely four years after it was swept away by the APC.

    But APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said his party was ready for the opposition and that it had done a lot to gain the confidence of Nigerians.

    Oshiomhole spoke in Abuja on Saturday night during the affirmation convention of the APC where Buhari’s candidature, which was brought about by direct primaries across all the wards in Nigeria, was ratified.

    Accepting his nomination as PDP candidate yesterday, Atuku said: “We cannot afford to fail Nigerians at this very historic moment, because Nigerians are yearning for the return of PDP to power. They have now compared the administration of PDP and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They know that under PDP, they had years of prosperity, of unity, of security and of development. They have seen the gross mismanagement of the government of the APC.

    “Therefore, we have a wonderful opportunity to return PDP to power in this country. History has beckoned on all of us at this point in time, to make sure that PDP is returned to power.

    “We have enumerated a number of challenges facing this country. What we should now do in the next phase of our campaigns is to proffer solutions to these challenges that we have identified to be afflicting our country and its people. I, therefore, implore all participants, whether at local government elections, state elections or national elections, to make sure that we proffer solutions to these challenges that we have identified.

    “It is just not enough to say that APC has failed in all ramifications, but we should, as a political party, proffer solutions to the challenges that we have identified. This as a party, is going to make us completely different from the clueless government of the APC. By the time we start electioneering, I believe that Nigerians will yearn for the return of PDP, if we do so.”

    Atiku, who was vice president between 1999 and 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, added: “On a personal note, I would not have been standing where I am standing today (yesterday), if my former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, had not made me his vice-president. Under his tutelage, I learnt quite a lot. The experience I got is going to definitely impact on how eventually we govern this country. I wish to pay my personal tribute to him.”

    Oshimhole, at the APC convention in Abuja, said “The other party is choosing its candidate in Port-Harcourt. We will look at the records of the opponent; we will look at his pedigree; we will challenge them on their track records,” he said, adding: “We are going to take the records of our opponent and compare them to President Buhari’s record. After today’s convention, we are ready for 2019 electioneering campaign and we believe that we have a lot to disclose to Nigeria.”

    President Buhari dismissed the performance of the PDP in office in his acceptance speech at the convention. He charged Nigerians to think of how much the PDP Government earned between 1999 and 2015  that it was in power and what it did with it.

    The President recalled that under the PDP government, infrastructure and security was down while 18 Local Government in the Northeast were under control of Boko Haram.

    He said under that government, the country’s reserves were depleted and bankruptcy was around the corner, adding that Nigerians should ask the PDP what it did with the national treasury.

    Buhari added that Nigeria was now respected internationally, stressing that the international community was very supportive of the APC-Government’s efforts to put the country in order.

    President Buhari highlighted the achievements of his administration, saying it checked the slide to anarchy on the security and economic fronts.

    He added that Boko Haram under the government had been reduced to attacks on soft targets as normalcy had returned to much of Northeast and neighbouring Northwest states.

    The President also noted that the country’s currency had stabilised while its reserves was now $44 billion, a lot higher than it was in 2015 when the APC Government came into power.

    “Power generation capacity has reached 8,000 megawatts as against less than 4,600 when we came into office.

    “As we invest in new power generation infrastructure, we are strenuously working to address the legacy deficiencies and challenges of transmission and distribution networks across the country.

    “We are executing Independent Power Projects in nine Federal Universities to deliver uninterrupted power supply and we intend to expand to a total of 37 universities,” the president said.

    Buhari added that the government, through its Anchor Borrowers Programme and other incentives, had empowered more than two million farmers to go back to agriculture.

    He explained that the country now produces 80 per cent of its rice requirements as many farmers who nearly lost hope are now millionaires.

    Buhari said the APC-led Federal Government had also introduced primary school feeding programmes to encourage attendance and enrollment and had introduced the conditional cash transfer.

    This, he said, is to help small and medium businesses, men and women and young people who drove our economy.

    He said the government had repaired and was repairing major arterial roads and starting major railway projects with the aim of linking the 36 states with efficient road and rail transportation systems.

    The president maintained that the Government was attacking corruption head-on, with international support, saying that it was presently recovering Nigeria’s stolen assets and applying same to infrastructure development.

    “Today the corrupt are facing the wrath of the law and leakages have been generally blocked. We can be proud of our achievements, change has come,” President Buhari said.

    Oshiomhole dismissed claims by the PDP that the Federal Government was being selective in its anti-graft war, pointing out that if the President was selective in the anti-corruption fight, one of its senators would not be serving a jail term now.

    He also said that the complaints by opposition figures that the President Buhari-led administration was being heavy-handed should be ignored.

    He also dismissed claims of security breaches against the Buhari government, saying the PDP government was guilty of that accusation as it was used to harassing perceived political opponents.

    He said: “A sitting governor then, I was denied the use of a public airport. Mr President, sometimes I feel you are too mild. I was under threat of impeachment. I had to remove the roof of my State House of Assembly in order to survive.

    “One of your predecessors used seven people to remove a sitting governor. I am, however, not in anyway suggesting that you do the same.”

  • How Buhari, Atiku ‘ll slug it out, by Bakare

    Save Nigeria Group (SNG) convener Pastor Tunde Bakare yesterday assessed next February’s presidential election which he described as “the battle of the eagles” between President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Bakare said with Atiku’s emergence as the Peeoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer, the 2019 election will be keen and interesting.

    Bakare, Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, told reporters in Ikeja, Lagos after making a speech on Nigeria’s 58th Independence in his church that with Atiku, the race will be “more robust”.

    “It is not going to be an eaglet versus an eagle but an eagle versus eagle: an old eagle versus new eagle and probably both of them old eagles.

    “I wish President Muhammadu Buhari the best in 2019.

    “He has the power of incumbency and he will do his best to win the election, but Atiku is not going to take ‘no for an answer when the two forces collide in the election,” he said.

    Bakare said Atiku, just like Buhari, had the experience, the exposure and the acceptance expected of the country’s president.

    He, however, pointed out that having those qualities alone would not translate into victory for him, as the electorate would decide the parameters on which to elect the next president.

    “I can’t say Atiku will win or lose. You see, I am not advocating for him. Among all the aspirants who contested the PDP’s ticket with him, he is perhaps the most cosmopolitan; he is a Wazobia man.

    “He was Vice-President for eight years, and he inherited something from late Yar’Adua that he has held on to so effectively.

    “He has been a businessman with a business acumen and he has the exposure.

    “But you see, that is not what qualifies you to win. A lot comes into play; so, again, I can not say whether he will win or lose,” he said.

    Bakare said for the PDP to win the 2019 elections, the party would need to demonstrate to the electorate that it is regenerated and “show repentance for the years of the locust they engineered”.

    He added that the opposition party must convince Nigerians that they would not return to corruption, which he said was the way of life during its rule, to win the confidence of the electorate.

    On the chances of APC, Bakare said though the government was trying its best, there was the need for them to do much more to win the next election.

    He said the country was facing a lot of challenges which the government needed to offer solutions to, in order to fast track the pace of development.

    The cleric said that performance and policies, and not necessarily incumbency factor, would guarantee victory for the APC in 2019.

    The SNG Convener said his comments about Buhari’s administration from the beginning, should not be interpreted to mean he was attacking the government, but just raising issues needing attention.

    “I didn’t take any swipe at the administration of President Buhari.

    “What I have always said is that despite the acclaimed progress in the country, Nigerians are not feeling the impact in their homes.

    “That does not mean the government is not working. Look at the groanings of the people, the government still has to do a lot more before the 2019 elections.

    “They have to work harder to assure Nigerians that they are really up to the task of listening to their yearnings and aspirations.

    “The purpose of government is the welfare and security of people.Take that from the equation, then governance means nothing,” he said.

    Bakare said the emergence of many political parties was good for democracy and freedom.

    He, however, said many of the parties were pretenders and they would need to “rise above the cacophony of noise” they were making to make impact in the elections.

    The SNG Convener said he had a presidential ambition but would not contest against President Buhari.

    Bakare, who did not say when he would contest, however, said he would be the one to succeed the president.

    In his speech on the Independence titled “The Road to 2019: Quo Basis Nigeria”, Bakare said Nigeria had the potential to be great with the right leadership and positive attitude of followers.

    He said 2019 presented another opportunity for citizens to realise the destiny of the country by participating in the process and voting right.

    Bakare urged citizens to vote according to their conscience and elect leaders that mean well for the country.

     

  • How Atiku won the ticket in Port Harcourt

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Port Harcourt yesterday after defeating 11 opponents during the primary election involving 3,274 accredited delegates at the Adokiye Amaesimaka Stadium in the Rives State capital.

    Atiku polled 1,532 votes to Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s 693 votes.

    Other aspirants performed as follows: Senator Bukola Saraki 317 votes; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso 158 votes; Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo 111 votes; former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido 96 votes; Senator Ahmed Makarfi 74 votes, Former Minister Tanimu Turaki 65 votes; former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa 48 votes; Senator David Mark 35 votes; Senator Jonah Jang 19 votes and Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed 5 votes. There were 68 void votes.

    The convention, which started at 8:50 p.m. on Saturday when it was delared open by National Chairman Uche Secondus came to an end with the announcement of result by Chairman of the Elective National Convention Planning Committee Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta)at 12:44 p.m. yesterday.

    Akwa Ibom State had the highest number of delegates (151) with Ogun State the lowest with only 21 as a result of the unending litigation and factions.

    In his acceptance speech Atiku described the primary election as the most credible, transparent, free and fair, in the history of PDP, while lauding ex-President Obasanjo for giving him the opportunity in 1999 to be his deputy.

    Atiku also lauded Wike, Rivers government and the people of Rivers state on their support for the successful convention, while assuring that he would not fail and would not be found wanting.

    The presidential candidate of PDP said: “Today (yesterday), we are witnessing a landmark event, in the sense that since the rebranding of our great party, the PDP, and since the return of democratic governance in this country, we have just witnessed the best, the most credible, transparent, free and fair primaries.

    “Let me also commend my fellow competitors or aspirants for displaying a sense of unity, a sense of purpose and a sense of commitment. This is a very rare event.  My fellow compatriots have really shown that the interest of the party and that of the people of this country is paramount and more important, than our individual interest. I want to pay a tribute to each and everyone of them and to assure them that I am ever ready to work with each and everyone of them, for the realisation of the victory of our party in the forthcoming elections.

    “I cannot do it alone. I need your support. I need your assistance. I need your understanding and I need your participation. It is not a one man’s job. It is a collective responsibility and I am prepared to listen to you, to take your advice, to consult with you, to work with you. Together we will succeed and after we have succeeded, we shall be partners in the success.

    “Let me also pay my tribute to the members of the National Convention Planning Committee. This is one of the most innovative electoral processes that this party has ever taken, since the inception of this party in 1998. I believe we have learnt quite a lot from the conduct of this exercise. I also believe that we can continue to improve on what has been achieved in the last few days in Port Harcourt.

    Speaking on behalf of the eleven presidential aspirants, Saraki promised that all of them and their teeming supporters would work with the newly-elected presidential candidate of PDP, with the national convention ending at 1:28 p.m.

    The convention was, however, marred by near stampede, caused by overzealous security personnel and poor accreditation, especially of reporters.

  • Atiku commends fellow contestants for display of commitment

    The PDP 2019 Presidential flag-bearer, Atiku Abubakar has commended his fellow contestants for the display of unity and commitment during the convention.
    He made the remark while speaking at the convention after scoring 1, 532 votes out of the 3221 votes cast to get the ticket on Sunday in Port Harcourt.
    He described the convention as a landmark event, adding: ”today, we have also witnessed the most credible, transparent and fair primaries.
    ”Let me commend my fellow contestants for displaying unity of purpose and commitment. This is a very rare event.
     ”My fellow contestants have shown that the interest of the party is paramount to our individual interest.
    ”I cannot do it alone; I need your understanding; I need your participation.
    ”I am prepared to work with you and together we will succeed and after we succeeded, we become partners in progress.
    ”I believe we learnt quite  a lot from the conduct of this exercise because it went without a hitch and was very every successful.
    ”We look forward to working with you so that our party will return to power in the next election, “he said.
    According to him, Nigerians are yearning for the return of PDP to power.
    Abubakar, however, described APC government as ”clueless,” saying that if the PDP eventually assumed leadership of the nation, it would better the lot of the country.
    He also described the delegates as wonderful, loyal party members who also displayed maturity and sense of patriotism.
    ”You (delegates) have the freedom to choose and exercise that freedom.”
    He commended them for finding him worthy to represent them in the 2019 elections adding: ”I am humbled, you will not find me wanting.”
    He advised the party not to forget the leaders who made it possible to usher in democracy in Nigeria.

  • Atiku clinches PDP 2019 Presidential ticket

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has won the PDP Presidential ticket for the 2019 general elections.

    Abubakar won the poll with 1532 votes out of the total 3221 votes cast by 36 states and FCT.

    The result was announced by Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, Chairman PDP 2018 Special National Convention Planning Committee, at the end of the party’s convention on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

    In the results announced by Okowa, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal followed Atiku with 693 votes, while Sen. Bukola Saraki placed third with 317 votes.

    Others include: Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso 158 votes; Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo 111 votes; Sule Lamido 96 votes and Ahmed Makarfi 74 votes.

    The rest are: Tanimu Turaki 65 votes; Attahiru Bafarawa 48 votes; Sen. David Mark 35 votes; Jonah Jang 19 votes; while Datti Ahmed got 5 votes.

    Read also: Atiku: To get Nigeria working again, we must defeat APC

     

    The total votes cast were 3221, while delegates accredited were 3,274 and the voided votes stood at 68.

    Atiku Abubakar was born on Nov. 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa. He was the vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with Olusegun Obasanjo as President.

    Abubakar worked with the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, rising to become the Deputy Director, the second highest position in the Service, then. He retired in April 1989 and took up full-time business and politics.

    Abubakar contested for the APC presidenstial ticket in 2015 and came third behind Muhammadu Buhari and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

    He recently defected to the PDP from the APC to enable him to realise his ambition to become the president of Nigeria.